Power pedestal assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a deformation resistant power pedestal assembly comprising a hollow post formed of a fiberglass reinforced resin, having spaced apart load bearing walls defining an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first open end and a second open end. As illustrated herein the post may be either a square or a rectangle. The structure reinforcing cap, which may be formed from a polypropylene, polyethylene, fiberglass reinforced nylon, or the like is inserted within a first open end of said post. The structure reinforcing cap thus frictionally engages the interior surface of the post and substantially prevents movement of the exterior surface thereof when various types of appurtenant structures such as power supply cabinets, power panels, meter cans, junction boxes and the like are mounted thereon, utilizing through-bolts or the like, which would otherwise cause deformation and possible structural failure of the post walls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to power pedestal assemblies, particularly to weather resistant power pedestal assemblies having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power pedestals are used extensively for forming a stable area from which various power equipment, cable television, telephone and other like equipment are mounted. Typically, the main feeder cables for these various utilities run underground, and a portion of the main cable is brought up and affixed in some manner to the pedestal for connection to an intermediate junction device, from whence a connection to the end user is made.

These pedestals have typically been made of wood, metal and concrete, which suffer from weather degradation leading to early failure. It is also known in the art to form pedestals from assorted polymers for the purpose of choosing a non-conductive material, however these pedestals lack the requisite structural properties to support heavy loads.

What the prior art has thus far failed to provide is a weather resistant power pedestal assembly comprising a deformation resistant pole, formed from a fiberglass reinforced resin, in combination with a structure reinforcing and weather resistant cap which, when assembled, provides an assembly having a strength to weight ratio of about 18:1. This construction thus makes it possible to attach approximately 800 pounds of appurtenant assemblies to an assembly weighing only about 44 pounds. As an added benefit, when the lower end of the pedestal is inserted about 36″ below ground, the resultant assembly is capable of meeting the stringent Florida Building Code 2001 requirements for wind load requirements without the need for additional concrete anchoring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,078 “Apparatus and Systems That Interface to Facilities and Equipment That Provide Temporary Electric Utilities to Construction Sites” is directed towards an electrical interface comprised of permanent electrical facilities and a temporary electrical facility. The permanent electrical facilities provide electrical power to a residential neighborhood. The temporary electrical facility electrically is connected to the permanent electrical facilities and provides electrical utilities to construction sites. The temporary electrical facility is comprised of a first housing, at least one electrical breaker, and at least one electrical plug. The electrical breaker and the electrical plug are positioned in and enclosed within the first housing is such a manner that the at least one electrical breaker and the at least one electrical plug can be accessed from a position exterior to the first housing. The at least one electrical breaker electrically is coupled to the permanent electrical facilities and to the at least one electrical plug in such a manner as to selectively switch power to and from the at least one electrical plug. A process comprises the following steps: (a) locating and positioning a stand alone electrical facility in proximity to a permanent electrical facility, (b) digging a hole in which to place a first end of the stand alone electrical facility and digging a trench that extends from the permanent electrical facility to the hole; c) placing conduit housing an electrical cable in the trench; and (d) setting the stand alone electrical facility in the hole and laying the conduit housing the electrical cable in the trench; (e) filling in the hole around the first end of the stand alone electrical facility and filling in the trench; and (f) placing the electrical cable in the hollow pole and electrically connecting the electrical cable to the permanent electrical facility. This reference fails to teach a weather and deformation resistant power pedestal assembly having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,013 “Telephone Pedestal Encapsulating Splice Housing” is drawn to an improved method and apparatus for joining service wires to selected wire pairs of a loop of telephone cable housed in a telephone closure or pedestal. The invention provides a splice housing adapted to be positioned in the pedestal and adapted to house a loop of the telephone cable. The splice housing also includes an integral divider plate portion adapted to support one or more terminal blocks in a variety of arrangements and combinations and also to support a disconnect block adapted to permit connection and disconnection of the cable shields to ground and a ground clamp adapted to permit connection of the cable shields to ground and to permit connection of the shields of the service wires to ground. This reference also fails to teach a weather and deformation resistant power pedestal assembly having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,610 “Plural Utility Supply Pedestal Including Contained Common Grounding Means” teaches A mounting pedestal adapted to support an electrical meter and power box, and other utility service devices, in a compact and safe arrangement for their provision to a mobile home. A hollow, plastic post is supported in an upright position in the earth, and the power box and meter are attached to an L-shaped mounting bracket on the top of the post. The meter, power box and other devices are connected to a common ground, the common ground being at least partly embedded in the plastic post. In one preferred embodiment, the common ground includes a flat plate extending substantially throughout the length of the plastic post and is embedded therein. In a second preferred embodiment, the common ground includes a plurality of conductors extending through the plastic post, the conductors being connected by a common ground wire extending between them, which is disposed interiorly of the post. The supply wires for the utility devices extend within the plastic post from below ground level upwards to the associated devices. This reference fails to teach a weather and deformation resistant power pedestal assembly having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,369 “Pedestal for Electrical Circuit Components Having A Flexible Protective Dielectric Shield” discloses a hollow vertical pedestal or terminal housing having a bottom section for support and cable entrance, and an upper section, the front and top being removable for access to the interior into which cables and the like to be connected are terminated, the upper section at the back being provided with brackets for attachment of electrical circuit components and a protective shield of flexible dielectric material being provided to enclose the circuit components and provide a dielectric shield, a dust shield and a snow and weather shield. This reference fails to teach a weather and deformation resistant power pedestal assembly having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,510 “Pedestal Closure for Buried Cable” is directed toward a pedestal closure that includes a channel-shaped rear member and upper and lower channel-shaped front members mating therewith to define a terminal chamber. A backboard is hinged to a bracket mounted on the rear member to divide the upper portion of the chamber into front and rear compartments for assigned and unassigned conductors, respectively. The backboard is electrically connected to a grounding bracket via a flexible conductor which allows movement of the backboard without disturbing the ground connection. The lower front member includes a vertical channel formed in the exterior face thereof for receiving conductors such as service wires so that these conductors can be readily added to or removed from an installed closure without the removal of the lower front member. The vertical channel has a lid including a slotted opening along the edge thereof which permits installation of a conductor when the surrounding soil is frozen and subsequent burial of such conductor without disrupting the service. This reference fails to teach a weather and deformation resistant power pedestal assembly having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches a weather and deformation resistant power pedestal assembly having a high strength to weight ratio, which may be easily installed by an individual, and most particularly to power pedestal assemblies which are in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring. In a preferred embodiment the assembly includes a fiberglass post which is weather resistant, thereby providing a longer life cycle than concrete, wood or steel and in a particularly preferred embodiment includes a UV inhibitor for protection from ultraviolet light degradation.

Assembly of the cap and post yield a deformation and wind resistant assembly having a strength-to-weight ratio of about 18:1. As opposed to prior art devices which often required multiple individuals for installation, the power pedestal assembly of the present invention only requires a single individual for installation. Furthermore, direct burial at a depth of 36″ is in compliance with Florida Building Code 2001 wind load requirements.

Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the instant invention to provide a weather resistant power pedestal assembly comprising a deformation resistant pole, formed from a fiberglass reinforced resin, in combination with a structure reinforcing cap which, upon assembly, provides an structure having a strength to weight ratio of about 18:1.

It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a deformation resistant assembly capable of meeting the Florida Building Code 2001 Wind Load Requirements, without the need for concrete anchoring.

It is yet another objective of the instant invention to teach a power pole assembly which provides increased mounting surface area through the use of at least one mounting surface extender.

It is a still further objective of the invention to provide ultraviolet degradation resistance to the power pedestal assembly.

It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a pedestal incorporating therein a veil effective to prevent blooming of the glass fibers.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pedestal;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a pedestal;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mounting surface extender.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, side and rear views are provided of a deformation resistant power pedestal assembly 1 comprising a hollow post 10 formed of a fiberglass reinforced resin. In a preferred embodiment the post is formed from an isophthalic polyester resin having a UV inhibitor incorporated therein and containing greater than 50% glass by weight, in a particularly preferred embodiment the post contains from about 56.5% to about 61% glass by weight. In order to prevent blooming, a condition wherein the ends of the glass fibers protrude from the polyester resin matrix, the instant post is formed with an integral polyester veil. This veil is a polyester cloth which is molded to the pedestal pole's surface during manufacture, wherein it is intrinsically bound to the surface by intermingling with the polyester resin. The veil thus encapsulates the fiberglass and prevents blooming.

The post has spaced apart load bearing walls defining an exterior surface, an interior surface (not shown), a first open end and a second open end. While the post may be of any shape, as illustrated herein the post is either a square or a rectangle. The post is designed for direct burial, such that the post may be implanted directly into the ground 15, without the need for concrete reinforcement, preferably at a depth of about 30″-36″ below the ground level, and provide above ground support to one or more appurtenant structures attached thereto, so as to enable above-ground placement of loads up to 18 times the weight of the pedestal assembly.

The structure reinforcing cap 12, which may be formed from any suitable polymeric resin, for example polypropylene, a high density polyethylene or fiberglass reinforced nylon, is constructed and arranged for insertion within a first open end of said post. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cap is formed from a reinforced, high rigidity, UV stabilized polypropylene. Insertion of the structure reinforcing cap is provided such that the structure reinforcing cap frictionally engages the interior surface of the post and substantially prevents movement of the exterior surface thereof when various types of appurtenant structures (shown in phantom) such as power supply cabinets, power panels, meter cans, junction boxes and the like are mounted thereon, utilizing through-bolts or the like, which would otherwise cause deformation and possible structural failure of the post walls. Various retention means 14 are contemplated by the instant invention for fixedly retaining the structure reinforcing cap within the hollow rectangular post. In one particularly preferred embodiment the retention means may be screws, rivets, or the like 14, as shown at the point of insertion in FIG. 1, which are applied so as to simultaneously engage said cap and said load bearing walls whereby removal of said cap is prevented. Such attachment insures retention of said cap within said post, thus enabling the load bearing walls to be maintained in a spaced apart position subsequent to mounting thereon of one or more power boxes or the like having a weight up to 18 times the weight of said power pedestal assembly. Mounting is generally accomplished by the use of through bolts, which upon tightening, would have deformed and cracked prior art devices. Owing to the cooperation of the structure reinforcing cap and hollow post, the instant invention provides a solution to this problem. While the structure reinforcing cap need not completely seal the open end, in a preferred embodiment it does provide closure to the first open end.

Now referring to FIG. 3, when it becomes necessary to provide additional mounting surface, the power pedestal assembly may be modified by the use of one or more mounting surface extenders 16 as shown. The surface extenders have a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface is constructed and arranged for removable engagement with the exterior surface of the power pedestal 10, for example via the use of mechanical fasteners such as screws, rivets and the like (not shown), and the second surface is constructed and arranged to provide increased mounting area for support of variously attached structures.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A deformation resistant power pedestal assembly comprising: a hollow rectangular post formed of a polyester cloth veiled fiberglass reinforced resin, said post having spaced apart load bearing walls defining an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first open end and a second open end; a structure reinforcing cap, constructed and arranged for insertion within said first open end, whereby said insertion causes said structure reinforcing cap to frictionally engage said interior surface of said post and substantially prevent movement of said exterior surface; and retention means constructed and arranged for retaining said cap within said post; whereby said load bearing walls are maintained in said spaced apart position subsequent to mounting thereon of one or more power boxes or the like having a weight up to 18 times the weight of said power pedestal assembly.
 2. The power pedestal assembly of claim 1 wherein said cap provides closure to said first open end.
 3. The power pedestal of claim 1 wherein said retention means include a plurality of fasteners for simultaneously engaging said cap and said load bearing walls whereby removal of said cap is prevented.
 4. The power pedestal of claim 1, further including at least one mounting surface extender, said surface extender having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface constructed and arranged for removable engagement with said exterior surface and said second surface constructed and arranged to provide increased surface area so as to provide increased mounting area.
 5. The power pedestal assembly of claim 1 including at least one additive to provide resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
 6. The power pedestal assembly of claim 1, wherein the resin is an isophthalic polyester resin containing a UV inhibitor and from about 56.5% to about 61% glass by weight.
 7. A process for providing above-ground support of appurtenant structures comprising: providing a pedestal assembly including a hollow rectangular post formed of a polyester cloth veiled fiberglass reinforced resin, said post having spaced apart load bearing walls defining an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first open end and a second open end, said assembly further including a structure reinforcing cap, constructed and arranged for insertion within said first open end, whereby said insertion causes said structure reinforcing cap to frictionally engage said interior surface of said post and substantially prevent movement of said exterior surface and retention means constructed and arranged for retaining said cap within said post; directly implanting said pedestal assembly within the ground to a depth of between about 30″ and 36″; and attaching thereto at least one appurtenant structure via through-bolts; whereby said load bearing walls are maintained in said spaced apart position subsequent to mounting thereon of said at least one of said appurtenant structures having a weight up to 18 times the weight of said power pedestal assembly. 